Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-18
fContinsed from yesterdoy.)
LITTLE TU'PENNY.
By S. Barring GOULD.
CHAPTER VII.
HOW THE CHANCE CAME.

mill. Sometimes, when any visitors
were at the hall, the servants who could
not be accommodated in the house were
sent to the Dog and Pheasant. 1t was a
tidy, respectable, old fashioned inn, low,
yellow washed, with russell tile roof. and
vine, Black Marlborough, trained on
trellis over the roof, where it ripened
we'll in warm summers. The hest had
been Il butler to the old squire before the
property was sold to the successful Ok
ford street tradeslnan. However much
the host might turn up his lip of scorn in
the privacy of his own room with his
vifs over these parvenus, he was most
urDane and obsequious to them in public,
for Mr. Tottenham was his landlord. and
the hall brought good deal of custom
10 the Dog and Pheasant.
Throughout the neighborhood of Lon
don the old families have well nigh dis
appeared. They have migrated, and sold
their estates and mansions to wealthy
ira lesmen, who live in the old seats in
far grander style than did the plain coun-
try squires.
Ringwood had belonged to the family
Of Ringwood for three hundred years,
then came a spendthrift, then rash
speculation, bad times, finally breakup.
Squire Ringwood was obliged to sell his
ancestral estate and manor house, and 1t
was bought by the Tottenhans OF the
firm Of TOttenham & Sons, Oxford street.
One day there arrived at the Dog and
Pheasant a gentleman of engaging eX-
terror and manners He wore black
frock coat that fitted him admirably,
lavender pants, and kid gloves, Il crimson
ri f,lOIlp
Dion rose in his buttonhole. His name
-he showed his cards-Mr. Algcrnon
Beaufort He had delicate complexion
and slight cough. He came into the
country because he had been ordered
country air, and to Ringwood because
Ringwood was prescribed az specially
sal lbrious.
He strolled about the neighborhood for
day or two, and found it dull-an end
less tract of London clay, broken by old
tile pits and puddles. In time one may
have too much Of a good thing; 1t takes
very little time to have enough of Lon
don clay
Mr. Beaufort, standing in the bar,
drawing on his gloves, with his elegant
lavender legs wide apart, asked if it were
permissible for strangers to stroll in the
park The host of the inn hesitated. 1t
WAS not n favor generally accorded, but
if the gentleman would not mind taking
3 message of thanks from him TO the
keeper, whose lodge was in the park, for
a brace of rabbits he had sent his mis-
sus, it might serve as an excuse. Then
Mr.. Beaufort could look about him, and
see the trees, and the deer, and the lake;
aud the keeper might, perhaps, take him
over the warren.
Gloire de Dion was faded, SO he ven
tured to beg China rose of the land
lady, which suited his competition better
even than the Glorie de Dion, assumed
his highly polished hat, curled up at the
side, took his cane, lighted cigar, and
sailed forth. He entered the side gate
of the main entrance, sauntered about
the well wooded grounds came to the
keepers lodge, delivered his message,
and asked to be allowed to sit down and
drink glass of water. His appearance,
his complexion, his address, struck Mrs.
Rcdfern rs ariStocratic. She made him
very welcome, entered into conversat on
with him. assured him that her marriage
had been n come down in life, and that
though she lived under q cottage roof
she knew what good society was having
lived in baronal halls. This was q little
bit of an cXaggeration, but it did not
matter. Baronial halls-even when con-
verified by an infirmity of the speakers,
into 'alls-sounds well.
Mr. Beaufort assured the lady that he
quite believed it. Something in her
speech and bearing struck him as out of
the common when he first saw her. Then
she told him how she had acquired her
finished address and polite bearing. She
had been lady s maid to the Misses
Iottenham' OF the great house, one OF
whom was now married. The other was
still single, but said to be engaged. 1t
was SAD blow, she sad, TO old Mr. Tot
le"h"ih Iuat JUS eiuesI son hau married
an actress he was not allowed to remain
IN the hrh' lie was gwen an annuity,
anu ana not come 70 hlnGWood.
Ana TINS SIR she sad, as Trip ap-
peafed' 'his' SIR Is my daughter
our sister, surely, exclaimed MT.
De"uiot'' StaruhS 10 ms leet ana DOW
ing EraceloliY' with wave OF ms nat
my da.'Sh'or' an only ch'ld' SIR aged
eiShteeh'
nApoSSloie' maaame!
=, FRAY ne seated urged the hat'ered
MIS-, he'ueru'
II nhght oiler you some OF our mod
est ale ana humole CAKE, SIR or unpre-
tentiouS oiscuitS|
WIN the hlghest pleasure. My name
- ought TO nave introduced myselt-ls
beauior" ne put a carr on the taoie.
1ou may chance 10 kho" 'he naine' IL
you s,uV! the peerage' you VIII nave oo-
served that there Is duke OF my name. -
Mrs Redfern was giddy with excite
ment. She whispered to her daughter.